Daryl Wagar, who enjoyed coaching youth sports to countless kids, inspired people of all ages, according to those who knew him.

Wagar, general manager of the Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District, died Thursday after having suffered from gastric cancer for nearly a year.

He had a drive for realizing potential open space and how to protect it, colleagues said.

The 55-year-old father of three died peacefully in his home surrounded by family, according to his wife, Jenise.

At his request, Wagar’s body has been donated to the Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles, where Wagar received cancer treatment. Family members plan to memorialize him at a celebration of his life at noon Dec. 15 at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura. The public is invited.

Wagar was named the Camarillo district’s general manager in May and succeeded retiring General Manager Dan LaBrado. Wagar was the district superintendent for six years.

Despite continual trips to the hospital for chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Wagar kept an upbeat attitude and continued to step into his new role as general manager, his wife said.

“We called him Superman, and I got him a Superman shirt because his first round of chemo went so well that it shrunk part of the tumor,” she said.

Wagar had surgery last summer to remove the tumor, but doctors were unsuccessful. He had taken a leave of absence from work and continued chemotherapy treatments in the final weeks before his death, Jenise said.

During his final moments, Wagar scantly spoke to family members about his accomplishments, specifically, about his experience as a boxer while he lived in upstate New York, where he grew up.

Wager was serious about drumming up interest in preserving and restoring open-space habitats so future generations could experience nature the way he did. He was adamant about the importance of attracting people to open trails, renovating park playground equipment and educating anyone with a question about trees and local plants.

“He always had time for us whenever we had a question. He would always recommend books for us to read to help us grow into our jobs,” park Supervisor Matthew Parker said.

Before joining the district, Wagar was an arborist for the city of Ventura and helped run an urban forest program. There he met Jenise, a recreation program coordinator.

Jenise said her husband often pointed out all the trees he helped plant as they drove through Ventura and Camarillo.

“He loved tress. He was such a gentle soul, he never bragged about what he did. His signature trademark was to impart his knowledge on others,” Jenise said.

Wagar contributed to park and facility improvements and helped manage capital projects such as the Pleasant Valley Fields, a 55-acre sports complex and baseball field renovations at Freedom Park. He also helped bring Camarillo’s only dog-friendly park to Camarillo Grove Park.

One summer day before the sports complex was built, Wagar held a meeting at the dirt field with staff members, who wore hard hats and orange vests, to acclimate them with his vision of the park.

LaBrado said the district is eager to expand the open space and trails projects that Wagar began. The district is discussing plans to do something in Wagar’s memory.

LaBrado will fill in part time while the district searches for a new general manager. Park Supervisor Bob Cerasuolo has also filled in as acting superintendent.

Wagar is survived by his wife of 19 years, his son Isaac, 11, and daughters Hannah, 15, and Paige, 17. Three Daryl Wagar Remembrance funds have been established to honor the things about which Wagar’s greatest passions: his children, the environment and books.

Donations can be made through Wells Fargo Bank to help his children with college, to the Ventura Hillside Conservancy and to the Ventura County Library. Donors may choose to specify which account they would like to see donations be made through.